Ex-Syracuse DE sentenced for ID theft

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MIAMI, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Louis Gachelin, a former Syracuse defensive lineman, was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison for his role in an identity theft tax fraud ring.

Gachelin, 31, of Miami, who signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots in 2004 but never made their final roster, was one of three former NFL players caught in an FBI sting in north Miami, the South Florida Sun Sentinel said.

The FBI set up a fake financial services store in March and April. Gachelin brought in 29 IRS tax refund checks worth about $100,000 and tried to cash them for 60 percent of their worth, the newspaper said. He brought with him names, Social Security numbers and birth dates for the recipients and forged their signatures on some of the checks.

He pleaded guilty to the allegations in July.

Michael Antwon Bennett, 34, a running back who played for six NFL teams, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to three months in federal prison.

William Joseph, who played for the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders, pleaded guilty to theft of government money and aggravated identity theft after cashing $10,000 in IRS checks that were not his. He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 30.